Critical Analysis Of Kerry - Lugar Bill

ARGUMENTS FOR THE BILL

Pakistan is a developing country, since early 2008 Pakistan has been facing economic crisis which gave rise to inflation and poverty in the country, in late 2008, Pakistan faced huge amount of out flight of capital, as per report of State Bank of Pakistan Rs. 99miilion in November 2008.

The situation of credit crunch forced Pakistan to ask for loan from Asian Development Bank but it was not enough and Pakistan had to ask IMF for loan to stabilize its economy, Pakistan accepted these loans at high interest rates and with some bitter conditions.

Kerry – Lugar bill seems to be a silver lining behind the dark cloud. USA (itself suffered from the Global Financial crisis) has generously approved grant for Pakistan of $7.5 billions which will be injected in Pakistan’s economy on yearly basis that is $1.5 billions per annum for five years. This grant will be invested in Pakistan and will not to be returned by Pakistan to USA with any rate of interest. This grant would be spend on war against terrorism and on development project thus will help in the economic development of Pakistan. The third point of section 4 clearly states that the strategy includes assistance for overall country and will not be disproportionate to the security related matters only, or to any one particular province.

Instability of political system and weak judiciary are the major problems which Pakistan is facing for past fifty years. Kerry – Lugar bill has acknowledged this problem and sec 5 (B) ensures that USA will assist Pakistan in establishing transparent judicial system and will assist Pakistan government in achieving democracy in Pakistan. The rule of law is very important in the country like Pakistan, and no sustainable growth is possible in every sector of economy unless there is strong and transparent judiciary.

Sec 5 (C) indicates that the USA will assist Pakistan government in building infrastructure projects this include health care, water management and energy program in all areas of Pakistan. Pakistan is suffering from energy crisis for last decade and assistance in energy sector is crucial, this assistance will help Pakistan in overcoming energy crisis which ultimately result in industrial development and economic progress of Pakistan.

Sec 5 (F) of Kerry – Luger bill states that, private public partnership will be encouraged to promote the business and industrial sector of Pakistan, the public private partnership was initiated by General Ayuub Khan government and it was a major success, this program will surely contribute to the economic development of Pakistan and this will also improve the business practices in the country. This program also includes the training and development of Pakistani professionals at international level, it also include the support of institutions and universities of Pakistan through international accreditation; this program is aimed at developing professional skills of individual from grass root.

Sec 101- 5 (B) states that USA will support the Pakistani bright students by granting scholarships at the top universities of USA through Fulbright scholarship program, International visitor leadership program, the Youth exchange and study program and related programs administered by the department of state. These scholarship programs are essential to develop the skills and competencies of Pakistani students, this section of Kerry – Lugar bill signifies that USA is aiming at economic, political and social stability of Pakistan.

Sec 201 of the bill ensure that USA will assist Pakistan in the matter of national security, since September 11, 2001, Pakistan is facing devastating terrorist attacks all over the country, which are organized by different terrorist organizations working both nationally and internationally, Pakistan is spending millions of rupees every year in its war against terrorism. USA assistance is required for Pakistan to effectively eliminate terrorists form the country therefore, this section of Kerry – Lugar bill is beneficial for Pakistan.

Section 301 of the Kerry – Lugar bill states that the USA will monitor the development projects of Pakistan directly and will make sure that the amount granted is spent for the purpose it is granted, and that the amount would be granted to private organizations and NGOs for different development projects. This section is very important in this bill, in Pakistan; there is corruption at every level therefore effective monitoring is mandatory in Pakistan: without unbiased monitoring, it is not possible to invest effectively in development projects in different regions of Pakistan. And the rationale behind giving grant to the private organizations and NGOs is that; there is political instability in Pakistan and inconsistency of policies, every new government discards the policies and projects of previous governments; therefore to ensure the successful completion of projects, the grant will not be given directly to the government.

The bill also include grant of $150,000,000 for the professionalization and modernization of Pakistani police and to equip the police with latest weapons and also providing police with modern training. It also include grant of $10,000,000 for administrative expenses.

In short, USA is willing to assist Pakistan in difficult situation when all other countries and the friends of Pakistan have refused, though USA has imposed some conditions and restrictions but over all Kerry – Lugar bill is very important for the sustainable economic growth of Pakistan. The conditions imposed under Kerry – Lugar bill will not harm the sovereignty of Pakistan in any case, rather these are imposed to make sure that the grant is spent for the right purpose and to counter the corruption. It may be bitter but truth is that Pakistan is the most corrupt nation in the world; therefore, it is the right of USA to monitor the progress of Pakistan and take every measure to make sure that the dollars granted are spent for the right purpose and for the development of every sector without giving undue advantage to any particular sector or region.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST KERRY – LUGAR BILL

Kerry – Lugar bill is adding insult to the injury for Pakistan.

Sir Winston Churchill once said:

“If we ever left subcontinent, it would be run by the goose.”

Kerry – Lugar bill suggest that the government of Pakistan cannot run the affairs of the country and is incompetent, therefore USA should interfere in every matter of the government by granting just $1.5 billions per annum for five years. This bill is straight attack towards the sovereignty of Pakistan; the whole bill has described the role of USA president in the internal affairs of Pakistan as if Pakistan is the state of USA.

In Kerry – Lugar bill, though USA has agreed to give grant to Pakistan but it has imposed such conditions which are unacceptable to any rational mind.

Section 4 (3) of the bill, states that USA will interfere in the internal affairs of Pakistan and will formulate the country wide strategy for Pakistan, this section clearly states that USA will assist Pakistan in the matter of judiciary and politics, these are internal matters of Pakistan and no other country should interfere in these matters. The bill has presented Pakistan as a state of USA rather than an independent country which is humiliating for whole Pakistani nation. This section further state that USA will interfere in the schools and madarssas operating in Pakistan, this condition is unacceptable because such intrusion will pollute the mind of children and this will also affect our religious values. Pakistan government knows what is best for Pakistan and the interference of USA at school and madarssas is not required. This section is also attacking Pakistan nuclear power and this section is clearly blaming Pakistan for spreading nuclear technology when it says that “it requires Pakistan‘s cooperation in matter of counter proliferation of nuclear material and related networks, this is an insult to Pakistan security forces and intelligence agencies.”

Section 101 states that USA president will interfere in every matter of Pakistan from security to media, the bill states that USA president will help Pakistan in achieving various goals prescribed in the bill and no where in the bill mentioned president or prime minister of Pakistan, this is disgrace to the national integrity of Pakistan, the excess interference of USA in every matter of Pakistan is unnecessary and unacceptable.

This section further states that USA will encourage the religious scholars of Pakistan to speak up against the violent militants and to speak in favor of USA, this is a clear proof that USA will take different measures to influence the religious scholars of Pakistan, to speak for USA and to influence their opinion, this practice is unethical and is unnecessary and unacceptable.

Section 201 (4) of the bill attacks the armed forces of Pakistan and it depicts that the USA through democratic government will control the armed forces institution of Pakistan. This is the major purpose of giving grant to the Pakistan. This section conveys that USA wants the control of Pakistan armed forces form grass root level, this section is disrespect to Pakistan armed forces and Pakistan government should not in any circumstances what so ever should accept this section of the bill.

Section 202 is the clear attack towards the sovereignty of Pakistan; it states that ‘the secretary of state of USA is authorized to determine the military and civil personnel who are in the process of strengthening democratic form of government.’ The hidden meaning of this section is that USA secretary of state is authorized to promote the individuals in both civil and military level, who are working in accordance with the interest of USA, this section is designed so as to make sure that every decision and policy made in Pakistan is with the consent of US government rather than policies which promote national interest of Pakistan.

Another objectionable section of Kerry – Lugar bill is section 203, in this section it is stated that Pakistan government will give USA a direct access to Pakistan’s nuclear scientists, this also includes the national hero Dr A.Q. Khan, and this section is a direct attack to Pakistan’s nuclear facility and Pakistani scientists. Whole Pakistani nation is proud of its nuclear facility and nuclear scientist are considered as national heroes, therefore, putting such a condition is mocking Pakistani nation, and is humiliating for our national heroes. Therefore, this section should not be accepted by Pakistani government in any circumstances.

In short, Kerry – Lugar bill is the clear proof of what USA perceive of Pakistan, USA is granting $1.5 billions per annum to Pakistan and is behaving as if it has bought Pakistan, the major portion of grant which USA has approved will be spend directly for war against terrorism and not for the economic development of country. USA is trying to penetrate within Pakistan in every sector whether it is defense, politics or judiciary and is aiming at making policies for Pakistan regarding internal affairs.

This bill has straightforwardly questioned the competency of Pakistan government, if Pakistan government has any integrity left, it should not accept the conditions of Kerry – Lugar bill in any case what so ever.

GENERAL PROSPECTIVE

Kerry – Lugar bill has been passed by USA senate to grant $1.5 billions per annum for five years to Pakistan as assistance for economic development and war against terrorism. Though USA has agreed to give grant to Pakistan when Pakistan is desperately in need of finance but USA has taken undue advantage of the situation and imposed many bitter conditions for Pakistan.

Kerry – Lugar bill has both its pros and cones with respect to Pakistan there are some sections which indicate that USA will help Pakistan in overcoming energy crisis and will help for the economic development of Pakistan, but there are certain sections which are intrusion in the internal affairs of Pakistan such as defense, politics and judiciary. This bill portray that it is in the national interest of USA and not a favor to Pakistan.

Pakistan has been an important ally of USA since September 11, 2001 and has helped USA in war against terrorism and doing so Pakistan itself is suffering from terrorist attacks, but still USA has not given the credit to Pakistan rather it has disgraced and undermines Pakistan’s efforts. This bill suggests that Pakistan is a safe haven for terrorist groups; this is disgrace to Pakistan’s armed forces and Pakistan’s government as well. Further the bill states that secretary of state of USA will be authorized to promote the civil and military personnel which he thinks are working in alignment with USA policies. This statement is mockery of Pakistan merit system and is clearly indicating that USA is trying to impose its every decision on Pakistan as if Pakistan is not an independent country.

There are sections in Kerry – Lugar bill which signifies that USA will help Pakistan for the development of different sector of economy such as education, health, security and power etc equally in every province without any discrimination. This development is necessary for Pakistan especially in the undeveloped areas of Baluchistan, interior Sindh, interior Punjab and NWFP. These are major problems of Pakistan and to mention them in Kerry – Lugar bill signifies that USA has acknowledged these issues and is rational to give importance to these areas to achieve sustainable economic growth of Pakistani.

It is said that, “to gain something; you have to sacrifice something” Kerry – Lugar bill has its prose and cones and it is the decision of Pakistan government that what it want to gain and to decide what would be the price.